be rashly or too abruptly checked. In general,
these discharges are confined to the summer or spring months of the
year, and follow pains in the head, a sense of drowsiness, languor, or
oppression; and, as such symptoms are relieved by the loss of blood, the
hemorrhage should, to a certain extent, be encouraged. When, however,
the bleeding is excessive, or returns too frequently, it becomes
necessary to apply means to subdue or mitigate the amount. For this
purpose the sudden and unexpected application of cold is itself
sufficient, in most cases, to arrest the most active hemorrhage. A wet
towel laid suddenly on the back, between the shoulders, and placing the
child in a recumbent posture, is often sufficient to effect the object;
where, however, the effusion resists such simple means, napkins wrung
out of cold water must be laid across the forehead and nose, the hands
dipped in cold water, and a bottle of hot water applied to the feet. If,
in spite of these means, the bleeding continues, a little fine wool or a
few folds of lint, tied together by a piece of thread, must be pushed up
the nostril from which the blood flows, to act as a plug and pressure on
the bleeding vessel. When the discharge has entirely ceased, the plug is
to be pulled out by means of the thread. To prevent a repetition of the
hemorrhage, the body should be sponged every morning with cold water,
and the child put under a course of steel wine, have open-air exercise,
and, if possible, salt-water bathing. For children, a key suddenly
dropped down the back between the skin and clothes, will often
immediately arrest a copious bleeding.

2608. SPITTING OF BLOOD, or hemorrhage from the lungs, is generally
known from blood from the stomach by its being of a brighter colour, and
in less quantities than that, which is always grumous and mixed with the
half-digested food. In either case, rest should be immediately enjoined,
total abstinence from stimulants, and a low, poor diet, accompanied with
the horizontal position, and bottles of boiling water to the feet. At
the same time the patient should suck through a quill, every hour, half
a wine-glass of water in which 10 or 15 drops of the elixir of vitriol
has been mixed, and, till further advice has been procured, keep a towel
wrung out of cold water on the chest or stomach, according to the seat
of the hemorrhage.

Bites and Stings.

2609. BITES AND STINGS may be divided into three kinds:--1. Those of
I